The annual Spirit of Beacon Day on Sunday (Sept. 30) drew throngs of residents and visitors to Main Street for a street festival and parade that included two pipe bands, six marching bands and an appearance by Belgian artist Joëlle Tuerlinckx, who had just ended her weeklong performance, THAT’S IT! at Dia:Beacon.
Along the street, visitors could sample empanadas made by members of St. Joachim St. John’s church, hamburgers from Springfield Baptist and vegetarian offerings from Masjid Ar-Rashid. Gwen Laster, Solar Sound, Los Caribeños, Goldee Green, the Howland Wolves, the Beacon Performing Arts Center and the Beacon Rising Women’s Choir each performed on the main stage.
The Salvation Army hosted children’s activities; Sam’s Realty provided face painting; Small Tribe Hoops shared hula hoops; and Miss Vickie, Compass Arts, and Creative Strings performed.
The day’s organizing committee presented the Volunteer Spirit Award to the previous Spirit of Beacon Committee, which had run the event for nearly 20 years; the Community Spirit Award to Key Food for its sponsorship of volunteer events; and the Best Float Award to Glenham Elementary.
Video courtesy of City of Beacon
